Patrick Connor

Findings — machine-extracted (anthropic-batch:claude-opus-4-8); verify against the decision

The Respondent, a non-solicitor clerk who had worked for Cyril Waterton Solicitors, was the subject of a Law Society application under Section 43 of the Solicitors Act 1974. He had been convicted in 1981 at Maidstone Crown Court of robbery (9 years' imprisonment) and in 1989 at Worcester Crown Court of conspiracy to obtain property by deception (33 months' imprisonment). He admitted the convictions but denied any wrongdoing while working for the firm. The Respondent did not appear. The Tribunal found the allegation substantiated, holding he had been convicted of serious offences involving dishonesty, and made the Section 43 order plus costs of £1,500.

Duties found breached:

• Proper basis for allegations

Aggravating factors:

• Serious criminal convictions involving dishonesty (robbery; conspiracy to obtain property by deception)